Favorite Waldorf Resource #1: “Joyful Movement”

2. Despite the perception that the Waldorf Early Years is one gnome and fairy fest (and I mean that in a loving way, not a snarky way because don’t we all love the gnomes and fairies?), the Waldorf Early Years are truly about working with a child through his or her body.

3. The Early Years are about protecting all of the 12 senses and for developing the lower four of Steiner’s 12 senses and we do this through the way we act upon the body.

4. Most parents have little understanding of how to bring developmentally appropriate movement to their children. (HINT: It is not through organized sports as early as possible, as much as we all love a good baseball or hockey game!)

5. Uh, did I mention I am a pediatric physical therapist? LOL.

That is why this book is so wonderful and one of my favorites. There is nothing else out on the market like it for the Waldorf homeschooling family, and actually ANY parent would be enriched by reading it and implementing the things in this book!

Chapter 1: Waldorf As Therapeutic Education (with a word about that most famous of topics, Waldorf Guilt!)

Chapter 3: Ideas and Advice :Bilateral Coordination/Body and Spatial Awareness (broken up into under age 5 and over age5); Fine Motor Skills for Hands and Feet’; Balance and Coordination (broken up into under age 7 and over age 7); Listening/Silence; Touch; Visual; Warmth; Memory; For Dreamy, Sluggish Children; Calming Down/Centering; Getting Into the Body/Gross Motor Skills; Smell, Taste and Touch At Home; Dominancy of Hand, Foot and Eye; Horseback Riding; Gardening; Being in Nature; Active Math; A Waldorf-Inspired Backyard Assault Course (ages 6 and up)/ A Backyard Obstacle Course; A Summary of Things to Be Aware Of

Chapter 6: Groups (and yes, it does say Chapter 6 and I can’t find what page Chapter 5 is on as a heading)

This book is 101 pages long, so each section is only a page or a few pages. And like other Christopherus books, it is spiral bound with paper covers. (I personally always wish the covers were something sturdier).

As you can see by the outline of the chapter headings, this book is one that will see heavy use through multiple ages and children, so I feel it is a worthwhile investment to have a book of your own.

6 thoughts on “Favorite Waldorf Resource #1: “Joyful Movement””

I’m going to look for this book ( to borrow or buy) because it may help with the question I have for you. I have a four year old (will be five in two months) boy. When he plays by himself all he does is zooms. I’m not exaggerating. I can distract him for a couple minutes at a time. It’s so annoying to listen to all day. He’s also very contrary and whiny. If I set up a little art project he doesn’t want to do it then but later, but will then get mad cause we didn’t do it. When we’re outside he just zooms (a car, his hand, a clothespin, everything is a rocketship that crashes and zooms). He doesn’t play anything by himself unless it’s zooming. I also have a two year old girl and an 11 week old baby boy. In my opinion things are still adjusting and I still need to give myself a break from the mental beating up every now and then. That said, most of the time I don’t like the older kids. I’m ashamed of the way I have and sometimes still do parent them. I just can’t seem to pull myself out. My husband is very unsupportive of my desire to move towards a Waldorf environment for our home. I don’t know what Waldorf thing to implement first and I don’t know how to. I can’t afford tones of books on the subject and even if I could I don’t have time to read them. Your blog is the most reading I do in a day! Help me please!

Jane, Absolutely, be easy with yourself! I think you are right, there is a lot going on and I think if I had to prioritize for you I would focus on baby steps to rhythm, being outside, and yes, helping your four year old to play something different. I will find you some back posts to help you…Hang in there, you are doing great!